Generalized Anxiety is Taking Over My Life!!

I am new to this forum; and honestly this is my first time posting to a forum, so I'm hoping for some feedback that is direct, but will help put my anxiety At ease.

I have suffered from generalized anxiety for years. Recently it has elevated to levels that's are almost impossible to deal with. As I look back on the past 6 months of my life, I can understand whyy anxiety is beginning to beat me.

I constantly am working my mind. I have researched and spoken with my counselor about different breathing techniques for my anxiety. I feel like the key is catching the anxiety at its first stages in order for the breathing to be effective. The problem is, I am going to immediate panic attacks with no warning signs of one coming in. It hits me all at once. Does anyone else have this problem? I am to the point where my anxiety is all day everyday. I have been to the ER several times for various physical health symptoms, only to be told that everything is fine and looks good. I had my eyes checked yesterday after an ER visit, due to vision problems, which were diagnosebd as ocular migraines. I always have worst case scenario in my head..brain tumors, stroke, cancer, heart attack....to name some of the common ones. I am not currently medicated at this point, but know it is time for me to take a pill again. I have seeked counseling but am able to go twice a month, due to choosing a counselor who is over an hour away..she specializes in anxiety and I can't find one closer with that training.

To those who are feeling the same, how are you handling this? Mine is gradually getting worse, and I feel like I'm going crazy! I have 4 children and a husband, and I feel this isn't fair to them or myself. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!

I've been going through the same struggle for the past two years. I've had ups and downs, success and failures, but I have a better understanding of what's happening to me now and am doing my best to get along. It's unfair to my wife and child and that guilt also eats away at me.

If you have to take medication, I believe that it can be used as a tool to keep you level while going through therapy. I'm on meds now but through CBT I am trying to get a point where I am able to cope without the meds.

It's a lot of trial and error and health anxiety is the worst (for me anyways), and we all have setbacks, but I believe that failure in itself is a form of progress, so just keep moving forward.

Thank you for all of the information!! I like ok forward to sharing my feelings of anxiety; as well as getting suggestions from those who are going through the same things as me. I have taken Lexapro and Klonopin. They were a great match for me, and I believe the two together work wonders. I was really able to maintain control and put my anxiety on the back burner. My dr has recently prescribed me Zoloft because I was nursing. I have been hesitant to take this because it didn't work for me in the past. My dr is out of town for 2 weeks, so the Zoloft will have to do for the next couple weeks. :(. I can't go any longer. I look forward to reading the resources that are provided here. I am always open to trying new things to help calm my anxiety. Thanks gain!!

I recently started having these so-called panic attacks and they make me feel like I am literally going to die. There is no hope for me, I thought. I have juvenile diabetes and thought maybe my blood sugars were causing this but after blood tests and ekg's, the doctor said I am perfectly healthy. These panic attacks do become psychological but I am trying not to let it get the best of me. Like you, I have them everyday and sometimes I can feel them before they come, then sometimes not. They hit me at the most unexpected time. I didn't think I had that much stress in my life. I have been trying to figure out what the heck is causing these so-called panic attacks because I don't want to believe they are psychological. I cut back on caffeine, thought maybe it was something I was eating because I noticed many times they come on after eating dinner, so I have lost weight, then I thought maybe it was my heart, but the doctors assured me there is nothing wrong with me physically.
I don't understand why I keep having these terrible panic attacks. It does take over your life if you let it, but try not to let it. My doctor gave me the name of this app for your phone called "breathe 2 relax". Maybe you could try that. Sometimes walking helps me take my mind off of the worries in my life, or sometimes I play backgammon on facebook (don't laugh), and it does help.

I wish you all the luck to get control of these terrible panic attacks.
Sincerely,
Janet C